Freddie Whittaker | Schools Week

Schools given days to confirm autumn A-level resit venues

Schools requiring alternative venues for autumn A-level resits have less than two weeks to secure them and inform exam boards, the government has confirmed. In updated guidance issued this week, the Department for Education told schools and colleges to notify the Joint Council for Qualification’s centre inspection service by September 18 if they intend to […]

Williamson claims reopening is ‘very much’ under control despite spate of Covid closures

Gavin Williamson has claimed the reopening of schools is under control, despite a spate of closures prompted by Covid-19 cases. The education secretary told MPs today he was “very” confident that the situation was under control, and insisted schools that follow government guidance will “create an inherently safer environment for all to operate”. It follows […]

Autumn phonics check 2020: What schools need to know

The government has confirmed details of this year’s autumn phonics screening check, following the cancellation of the test in June. The Standards and Testing Agency announced in July that schools would be asked to administer a previous version of the check in the autumn term to year 2 pupils, who would normally have sat the […]

Pupils three months behind as new term starts, study claims

Pupils are on average three months behind on their learning as a result of partial school closures, with deprived pupils and those from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds more likely to be affected, a new study has warned. Rather than being a quick-fix, school catch-up schemes will need to be sustained if they are […]

New local lockdowns guidance: What schools need to know

Ministers have finally published guidance for schools on how to plan for potential local lockdowns, just days before many schools welcome their pupils back. The guidance sets out what schools must do in response to different “tiers” of local lockdown. Here’s what schools need to know. 1. There are four ‘tiers’ of action Tier […]

Heads slam government over last-minute local lockdown guidance

The government has issued an eleventh-hour edict to schools on how to plan for local lockdowns, angering headteachers and prompting questions about resources. The guidance sets out four “tiers” of action that may be needed, depending on the level of government intervention in different areas of the country. It demonstrates a complete lack of regard […]

Ofqual to face grilling by MPs over exams fiasco

Leaders from exams regulator Ofqual will appear in front of MPs next week to answer questions about this year’s A-levels and GCSEs fiasco – but outgoing boss Sally Collier will not be with them. Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, will also “likely” face questions about the government’s handling of the crisis when he appears in […]

Minister hints at potential further delay to vocational results

Exam boards are set to work “through the weekend and into next week” to process vocational qualification results, a minister has said, suggesting not all will be issued by tomorrow’s deadline. In a message to providers sent out tonight, skills minister Gillian Keegan acknowledged there was a chance some students would not receive their results […]

Williamson ‘should go’ says Institute for Government think tank

Gavin Williamson should follow the lead of his most senior civil servant and step down, the influential Institute for Government think tank has said. In an unusual move, the independent organisation which campaigns for more effective government, directly called for Williamson to step down, saying misjudgments made in education “have been some of the worst […]